CASE AGAINST MILAN LUCIC DROPPED
Bruins won’t take him back this season
The domestic assault case against Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic has been dropped.
The Bruins left-winger was set to go on trial yesterday, but a motion to use the 911 recording of the alleged victim was denied by Boston Municipal Court Judge James Coffey, leaving the prosecution with no case. The alleged victim also refused to testify.
“At this time the Commonwealth cannot prove the charges against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt without the participation of the victim,” the document annulling the case against Lucic, known as a Nolle Prosequi, stated. “The victim in this matter is out of state and made clear that she intends to assert a valid privilege not to testify at trial.”
The audio of the 911 call was played in court during the morning session. Lucic was also ordered to stand and show the size of his hands, which would have been in evidence regarding any possible choke marks on his alleged victim.
A spokesman for the Suffolk District Attorney’s office said, “This situation is something prosecutors encounter quite often in matters involving domestic charges.
“We handled this case exactly as we would any other presenting a similar set of circumstances,” spokesman James Borghesani said in the statement.
Lucic was arrested and charged with assault and battery on a family or household member following a Nov. 17 alleged incident involving his wife.
The alleged victim called police at around 1 the following morning. She said that Lucic had tried to choke her, according to the police report, and met with officers in the lobby of the couple’s Battery Street building in Boston’s North End minutes later as Lucic remained in the couple’s apartment.
The alleged physical altercation began, the alleged victim told police, after a night out on the town together after which Lucic couldn’t find his phone and accused the alleged victim of hiding it. She said she didn’t know where it was and tried to leave the room. That is when, according to the police report, Lucic allegedly grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back, telling her that she wasn’t going anywhere.
Lucic, 35, pleaded not guilty to the charge at his arraignment on Nov. 21 in Boston Municipal Court’s central division downtown. He was released on personal recognizance.
Lucic had no comment as he left the courtroom yesterday morning, but his defense attorney Gary Pelletier said the veteran player is “looking forward to getting his life back” and working with the NHL to return to the team.
“He wants to get on with his life. He wants to get on with his NHL playing career, hopefully with the
Bruins. And, as fast as he possibly can, put all of this behind him. He’s glad this is over,” Pelletier said. “It was the right decision and the right result.”
Lucic has been on “an indefinite leave of absence” after he was reportedly arrested following an alleged incident of domestic violence in November. Following yesterday’s hearing, the team said that he will remain on leave.
“Milan Lucic will remain on indefinite leave from the organization for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. The Boston Bruins organization supports Milan and his family as he continues his personal rehabilitation,” the Bruins wrote in the statement.
Lucic spent his first eight seasons with the Bruins before returning to the club this season after eight seasons playing for Los Angeles, Edmonton and Calgary.